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The festival season is well and truly underway.

And over the last decade the festival sector has grown enormously. In 2008 more than a million festival goers gathered to share music and company.

Festivals can be energy guzzling affairs and the amount of litter produced unbelievable. Sustainable festivals though are the way forward and you can also make your own experience greener even if the festival doesn’t hold many green credentials.

Glastonbury was a success this year, more grass then mud and with such an eclectic range of things to do and people to see. There are lots more festivals over the summer so we have put some ideas together on how to ‘green your festival’.

Festival fashion can be chic and might seem like a worthwhile way to part with your hard earned. But stop and think and try and hold back on buying NEW clothes for the festival season. They are likely to get damaged.

Instead, why not join in one of Daisy Green Magazine’s Swish parties or visit your local charity shop? If you love new items, have a look at our camping chic fashion choices. 

Car share

So you have bought the festival ticket but have you thought about how you are going to get there? Most of your Carbon footprint originates from the way you travel to the event.

Consider using public transport where possible or at least car share  – to arrange a lift share go to liftshare.org

You have opted to camp? That is just the start of it. Tents, tent pegs, sleeping bag, torches and toilets. Oh what joy. Camping at a festival is often not like the traditional images of camping that spring to mind. You may be in close, neigh, very close proximity to your neighbour without purpose built facilities. Which is not a bad thing, well not until you think of hundreds of people urinating at random in a field.

In 2007 there were 15,000 tents left standing at Glastonbury which is shows you how wasteful we can be. Don’t be one of those statistics and book yourself a myhab and get the full service – they’re pitched and ready for you to use and then taken away for you after the bands and the crowds have gone home.

If, however, you still want to bring a tent and you are in the market for a new one then how about one from greenoutdoor.co.uk. You can get a spacious four berth tent with a striking pyramid design made from sustainable natural hemp/cotton canvas. It even comes with bamboo pegs.

You can now even buy sleeping bags made from recycled materials. The EcoPro 15 is not only made from plastic bottles and recycled fabrics, it weighs just 1.59kg and keeps you warm down to –9 degrees Celsius.

You will need a torch for those middle of the night moments or trying to distinguish one green tent from 1000 others. Wind up and kinetic torches have come a long way and you don’t need to worry about failing batteries. Just shake or wind and voila you have light.  .

Finally, if you’re taking all your favourite gadgets with you, opt for a personal, portable solar panels. These are ideal for MP3 players, batteries and mobile phones, widely available from eco shopping sites like ethicalsuperstore.com. 

Lush solid shampoo

For all your washing needs, opt for an all in one product like a tried and tested Lush solid shampoo. Also if wipes are your favoured staple opt for bio degradable, wet wipes. Go for a natural toothpaste too.

To take the pain out of what to take Ecotopia have developed an Eco Festival pack. The kit which contains 10 essential items. Freeloader Solar Charger, Condomi Condoms, The Freeplay Kito Lantern, Badger Tangerine Breeze Lip & Body Balm, Kingfisher toothpaste, Preserve 100% recycled toothbrush, Tushies Baby Wipes, Degradable Refuse Sacks, Natracare Organic Feminine Wipes and Toms of Maine deodorant.

Festivals appear to bring out the worst in those midgy critters. To avoid getting bitten from head to toe this year why not try Incognito. A new mosquito repellent that works with 100 per cent natural ingredients.

Apparently we are going to have a heatwave this year so make sure you slop on that sun screen. Take a look at our tried and tested creams by Sallyanne our editor.

Before you leave – Leave nothing but footprints. Use on-site recycling facilities or take home waste to recycle or compost.

Have a very happy Festival season.

The daisygreenmagazine.co.uk green festival round up